How to Find the Security Identifier (SID) of a User in Windows 11?

A Security Identifier (SID) is a unique identifier assigned to each user account in Windows, used to control permissions and manage user access. Knowing the SID of a user can be helpful for various administrative tasks, including troubleshooting permissions issues or configuring settings for specific users. This tutorial provides a step-by-step explanation of how to find the SID of a user in Windows 11 , covering multiple methods for accuracy and convenience.

The SID is crucial in Windows because it uniquely identifies user accounts within the system. If you’re managing permissions, accessing specific settings, or configuring user-specific policies, the SID helps ensure that the correct permissions are applied to the correct user.

Available Methods:

We can find the SID of a user in windows 11 using PowerShell command, Command Prompt Commands, & Registry editor.

PowerShell Commands	Command Prompt Commands
GetCurrent	WhoAmI
Get-WmiObject	wmic useraccount (Current User)
Get-LocalUser	wmic useraccount (Specific User)
Get-CimInstance	wmic useraccount (User Name)
—	wmic useraccount (SID of All Users)

Method 1: Find SID of Current User Using the whoami Command:

• Open Command Prompt by typing “cmd” in the Windows search bar and selecting Run as administrator.

Open Command Prompt using Run as Administrator

• Enter the following command and press Enter:
  • whoami /user

Whoami user command to find SID value

The command will display the Username and SID of the currently active user.

Method 2: Find SID of Current User Using wmic useraccount Command:

• Open Command Prompt by typing “cmd” in the Windows search bar and selecting Run as administrator.

Open Command Prompt using Run as Administrator

• Enter the command below, replacing UserName with the currently logged-in user’s name:
  • wmic useraccount where name="UserName" get sid

wmic useraccount command to display current user SID Value

• Press Enter, and the SID for the specified user will be displayed.

Method 3: Find SID of Specific User Using wmic useraccount Command:

• Open Command Prompt by typing “cmd” in the Windows search bar and selecting Run as administrator.

Open Command Prompt using Run as Administrator

• Type the following command, replacing UserName with the username of the account you wish to query:
  • wmic useraccount where name="UserName" get sid

Finding other accounts SID value using command

• The SID for the specified user will appear.

Method 4: Find Username for a Given SID Using wmic useraccount Command:

• Open Command Prompt by typing “cmd” in the Windows search bar and selecting Run as administrator.

Open Command Prompt using Run as Administrator

• Enter the following command, replacing SIDValue with the actual SID:
  • wmic useraccount where sid="SIDValue" get name

Using SID value to find the Username

• You can get the SID value from the above methods.
• The command will output the Username associated with the specified SID.

Method 5: Find SID of All Users Using wmic useraccount Command:

• Open Command Prompt by typing “cmd” in the Windows search bar and selecting Run as administrator.

Open Command Prompt using Run as Administrator

• Enter this command:
  • wmic useraccount get name,sid

Command to display all available users and their SID values

• This command will display a list of all users and their corresponding SIDs.

Method 6: Find SID of Current User Using GetCurrent in PowerShell:

• Open PowerShell as Administrator by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Windows Terminal (Admin).

Opening PowerShell as Admin Mode

• Enter the following command:
  • [System.Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent().User.Value

GetCurrent() user command to display current user SID value

• This command will output the SID of the currently logged-in user.

Method 7: Find SID of All Users Using Get-WmiObject in PowerShell:

• Open PowerShell as Administrator by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Windows Terminal (Admin).

Opening PowerShell as Admin Mode

• Run the following command:
  • Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_UserAccount | Select-Object Name, SID

Command will display all list of users and SID values

• PowerShell will output a list of usernames along with their corresponding SIDs.

Method 8: Find SID of All Users Using Get-LocalUser in PowerShell:

• Open PowerShell as Administrator by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Windows Terminal (Admin).

Opening PowerShell as Admin Mode

• Run this command:
  • Get-LocalUser | Select-Object Name, SID

Get-LocalUser command to display all users and their SID values

• The output will show each user along with their SID.

Note: This command works for local accounts on Windows 11 and is suitable if you don’t require domain user accounts.

Method 9: Find SID of All Users Using Get-CimInstance in PowerShell:

• Open PowerShell as Administrator by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Windows Terminal (Admin).

Opening PowerShell as Admin Mode

• Now you need to execute the following command:
  • Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_UserAccount | Select-Object Name, SID

Get-CimInstance command to display all users and their SID values

Method 10: Find SID of Users in the Registry Editor:

The Registry Editor stores SIDs for each user profile, which can be accessed manually.

• Press Winkey + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

Running Regedit Command in Run Window

• Navigate to the following path:
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

Navigate to the desired directory in Registry editor

• Under ProfileList , you’ll find a list of SIDs. Each SID corresponds to a user profile on the system.

UNder Profile list you can find SID values

• Click on each SID folder and check the ProfileImagePath entry to identify which user profile corresponds to each SID.

Caution: Be careful when using the Registry Editor, as making incorrect changes can affect system performance.

Conclusion

Finding the Security Identifier (SID) of a user in Windows 11 is essential for administrators and advanced users who need precise control over permissions and configurations. This tutorial covers several methods to retrieve a user’s SID, including Command Prompt , PowerShell , Registry Editor , and the whoami command. By following these methods, you’ll be able to quickly and accurately identify SIDs for any user account on your system.

Commonly Asking Queries:

Can I change the SID of a user in Windows 11?

No , the SID is unique to each user and is assigned automatically. Changing it can cause access issues and is not recommended.

Is it safe to use the Registry Editor to find SIDs?

Yes , it’s safe to view SIDs in the Registry. However, avoid editing registry entries unless necessary, as incorrect changes can impact system performance.

Does each user have a unique SID across different computers?

No , SIDs are unique within each Windows installation. A user on one computer will have a different SID on another computer.

Why can’t I find a specific SID in the Registry Editor?

If the user account doesn’t have a local profile on the computer, their SID may not appear in the Registry under ProfileList.

What should I do if I accidentally delete or modify a SID in the registry?

Restoring from a recent registry backup or system restore point can often resolve issues if an SID is accidentally modified.